Toy block



Aug. 19, 1947. w. N, DE SHERBININ TOY BLOCK Filed Aug. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W/LL/HM /V. de5///-/)\( B 4 2 II! 7 A ORNEY Aug. 19, 1947- w. N. DE SHERBININ TOY BLOCK Fil'ed Aug. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

PatentedAug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly pertains to toy blocks generally termed building blocks.

The invention provides toy building blocks, preferably hollow cubical in form, which may be built up one or more upon another on their edges or corners in addition to the ordinary manner of building them up face upon face. In other words, the blocks may not only be built up with the faces of the several blocks in contact, but they may also be built up edge to face, edge to edge, corner to face, corner to edge, and corner to corner.

The invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of blocks embodying the invention;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are. views illustrating the manner in which the blocks may be built up one upon another;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional View on an enlarged scale showing the manner in which the blocks are interfitted corner to corner, and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are plan'views,'in unfolded form, of the blocks shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

Like characters of reference refer to the same or to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the blocks are made of cardboard or other suitable sheet material such as a plastic, or metal, or the like, which is cut to form closed boxes of hollow cubical form, and have one or more slots 01' cutout portions of various configurations on their faces or edges, or both. In general, the slots and cut-out portions are so arranged and disposed as to receive the edge or corner of another block placed thereon.

Referring to the drawings, the block It] shown in Fig. 1 is folded into a closed box-like block from the blank ll shown in Fig. 9. The upper face l2 has a centrally disposed elongated slot l3 parallel with two sides of the block and with communicating V-shaped notches [4 in the sides l5 and I6 and the extension ll. The lower face 3 has a similar elongated slot IS with communicating v shaped notches 2D in the sides l5 and I6 and the extension 2|. are adapted to receive an edge portion of another block.

Block 22 shown in Fig. 2 is folded into a closed box-like block from the blank 23 shown in Fig. 10. The upper face 24 has a centrally located circular These slots [3 and I9 opening which is adapted to receive the corner portion of another block and to support the other block in any suitable position relative thereto. The adjoining sides 26 and 21 are cut to form a V-shaped notch 28 in the edge portion of the block and which is adapted to receive an edge portion of another block with the edges of the blocks at right angles to each other. The adjoining sides 29 and 30 have a similar notch 3i. The-adjoining sides 21 and 29 have a notch 32 which is. arranged and disposed to receive an edge portion of another block with the edges at an angle other than a right angle. The adjoinin edge portions of the side 29 and the bottom face 32" have a notch 33 which is arranged to receive the corner portion of another block in a predetermined position relative to the supporting block.

Block 34 shown in Fig. 3 is folded into a closed box-like block from the blank 35 shown in Fig. 11. The upper face 36 has a triangular-shaped cut-out portion 3'! arranged to receive the corner portion of another block. The bottom face 38 has a similar cut-out portion 39 but disposed with one side of the triangle parallel with a side of the bottom face instead of parallel to the end thereof as in the case of the cut-out portion 31 to provide for a different relative position of the other block as compared with the position when the cut-out portion 31 is employed to receive the corner of the other block. The side 4!] has an elongated slot 4| disposed diagonally therein and which is arranged to receive an edge portion of another block. The side 42 has a similar elongated slot 43 excepting that it is disposed on the other diagonal, as viewed in Fig. 3. The notches 44 in the flaps 45 and 46 register with the cut-out portion 31, and the notch 41 in flap 48 and the notch 49 in flap 50 register with the cut-0ut portion 39. The notch 5! in extension 52 which is secured by adhesive or the like to the side 42, registers with the slot 43. The adjoining sides 42 and 53 have a notch 54 of the shape shown adjacent one corner 55 which is adapted to receive the corner portion of another block in the manner shown in Fig. 8, it being understood that the. other block 56 is provided with a notch 51 like notch 54 and in a similar location with respect to the corner 58. With notches like, or similar to, the notches 54 and 51, blocks may be built up corner to corner.

In folding the blocks from the blanks l l, 23 and 35, the extensions 60 and 52 preferably are secured to the side of the block which is adjoining the side with which the extension is integral,

by any suitable adhesive or other securing means. The other extensions, such as the extensions l1 and 2| of blank H and. the extensions 45, 46, 48 and 50 preferably are not secured to other portions of the block, but are merely folded into boxlike form in the usual manner, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In Fig. 4, a block In is placed upon a supporting surface with a slot I3 in its upper face and a block 34 is placed with one edge thereof in the slot |3 of block ID in edge to face relationship. A block 22 is placed on the block 34 with the notch 32 in position to receive the uppermost horizontal edge of the block 34', so that the blocks 32 and 34 are in edge to edge relationship.

In Fig. 5, two blocks 34 are laid on a supporting surface with a vertical edge of one adjacent a vertical edge of another and with slots 4| in the upper face of each block. A block I is placed on each block 34 with its lower horizontal edge in the slot 4| in the position shown, and a block I0 is laid in the V-shaped space between the upper portions of the blocks l0 with one face in engagement with one face of each block iii. A block 22 is placed upon block Iii in edge to edge relationship with a slot 3| receiving the upper horizontal edge portion of the block It.

In Fig, 6, a block 34 is placed on a supporting surface with a triangular cut-out portion 31 or 39 in the upper surface of the block. A similar block, designated 34, is placed on block 34 with one corner in the cut-out portion 3? or 39, so that the blocks are in corner to face relationship. A second similar block 34" is supported on the block 34 in corner to corner relationship therewith in the manner shown more in detail in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 7, a block ill on a supporting surface with a slot l3 in its upper face, supports a block 34 with one edge portion in the slot [3 in edge to face relationship. A block 34, similar to block 34, is supported on block 34 in face to edge relationship with a slot 4| or 43 receiving the uppermost edge of the block 34.

Many arrangements other than those shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are possible, although these figures are illustrative of the many various relationships in which the blocks may be built up one upon another. In consequence, the blocks may be built up to produce a wide variety of structures and they afford means for the exercise of a high degree of ingenuity in assembling the blocks,

Each block may be provided with one or more of the slots or cut-out portions, or both, and in any desired combination thereof. For example, two or more slots or cut-out portions may be located in a single face of a block so that the cutout portions overlap or not, as may be desired. Additionally, the blocks may be other than cubical in form, that is, one or two cross sections may be rectangular, rather than square. The word parallelopiped as used in the claims, includes a six sided block Whether any crosssection is square or rectangular. Moreover, the blocks may be molded from any suitable material such as plastic or papier mache, and the slots and cut-out portions may be provided with bottoms which are shaped to conform to the outer contour of the portion of the block which is secured in the slot or cut-out portion. With this arrangement, the blocks will be hollow but there will be no openings through the walls of the blocks as in the form illustrated in the drawings. The term slot or cut-out portion used in the claims includes within its meaning slots or cut- 4 out portions having bottoms as described or their equivalent.

Since variations are possible in the form and location of the several slots and cut-out portions as well as in the blocks themselves without departing from the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy building block having a plurality of plane intersecting faces free of projections and having a rectilinear cut-out portion in an edge portion thereof shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block in edge to edge relationship.

2. A toy building block having a plurality of plane intersecting faces free of projections and having a rectilinear cut-out portion in an edge portion thereof shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block in edge to corner relationship.

3. A toy building block having a plurality of plane intersecting faces free of projections and having a rectilinear cut-out portion in a corner portion thereof shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein a corner portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block in corner to corner relationship.

4. A toy building block having a plurality of plane intersecting faces free of projection and having a rectilinear cut-out portion in an edge portion thereof shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block in edge to edge relationship with the edges extending substantially at right angles to each other.

5. A toy building block having a plurality of plane intersecting faces free of projections and having a rectilinear cut-out portion in an edge portion thereof shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block in edge to edge relationship with the edges extending at an angle other than a right angle to each other.

6. A toy building block having a plurality of plane, intersecting faces free of projections and having in at least one face thereof and of smaller extent than said face a rectilinear cut-out portion shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block with the faces of the blocks out of substantial contact.

7. A hollow toy building block having a plurality of plane, intersecting'faces free of projections and having in at least one face thereof and of smaller extent than said face a, rectilinear cutout portion shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position 5 solely on the block with the faces of the blocks out of substantial contact.

8. A hollow toy building block of parallelopiped form having a plurality of plane, intersecting faces free of projections and having in at least one face thereof and of smaller extent than said face a, rectilinear cut-out portion shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block with the faces of the blocks out of substantial contact. 9. A hollow toy building block of cubical form free of projections from the faces thereof and having in at least one face thereof and of smaller extent than said face a rectilinear cut-out portion shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion of another block of cubical form so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block with the faces of the blocks out of substantial contact.

10. A hollow toy building block folded into cubical form from a box-like blank and having in at least one face thereof and of smaller extent than said face a rectilinear cut-out portion shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein an edge portion ofanother block of cubical form so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block with the faces of the blocks out of substantial contact.

11. A toy building block having a plurality of plane intersecting faces free of projections and having in at least one face thereof and of smaller extent than said face a rectilinear cut-out portion shaped and positioned substantially to fit and to receive therein a corner portion of another block of similar configuration so that the other block may be supported in balanced position solely on the block in corner to face relationship.

WILLIAM N. DE SHERBININ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nelson May 25, 1943 

